A Father’s Day note to the kids

Tuesday

Jun 11, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 11, 2013 at 11:50 PM

Erich Murphy's Sez MEE column

Erich Murphy

Dear Betsy, Greg and Brad, Although I came along in your life at a later time, I was still able to watch two of you play and experience some moments with each of you that would make any dad proud. Even tough I still do not consider cheerleading to be a sport, I do recognize the athletic ability and talent needed to be good at it. Betsy, you were as good as any I’ve ever seen any where at any time. You obviously enjoyed it because you worked so hard at it. I have to admit being very proud of you and your team when you won the McLean County Tournament cheerleading competition. I was quite proud to see you anytime you cheered. I was also proud of how you stood up to the circumstances in competing in basketball despite the scorn of the jealous seniors who were put to task because you tried and worked and they did not. Despite the outcome of any event, you were always the spunkiest and prettiest of those competing. Greg, can’t say enough about watching you play ball. Even tough you weren’t a starter, I was still proud to be there whenever I could. I purposely made an effort to cover Chenoa whenever I could despite what else was on the docket just because you were on the team. Yes, it helped that Betsy was also cheering, but that only made it doubly pleasurable. I do recall one time, before your mother I married, when you were climbing around one of the backboards at CHS getting a ball down. I cannot express how wonderful it was to take you to Illinois basketball games and be my photographer. Or how you looked at Robert Traylor of Michigan when he walked past you in the media room after a game. I miss taking you to Garcia’s, as well. But there are two specific events that have taken place that are really heartfelt to me. One is the time you and Jason helped me put up a basket and backboard in the shop. That is a classic moment for any father-son — even a stepfather and son thing. The second actually involved your oldest son. And I have to believe you got more enjoyment out of it than I did because of the father-son experience with you and Matthew. That was going to the Orioles baseball game in Baltimore last year. A father-son moment at their first baseball game is very special. I remember the first baseball game I went to with my dad. It was in St. Louis with the Cardinals playing the Cubs. Much like I’m sure you remember your first game with Gary, Matthew should remember his first game with you. To be able to go to that first game with a son who is taking his son to his first game is a very special event that, frankly, few to get to enjoy. Such activities are cherished and I’m glad to have been able share these and others with you. Brad, unfortunately for me I came along much later in your life. Even though sports wasn’t your bag, you should know how proud I am of you for who you are and how you are taking on the responsibility of being a father supporting your children’s’ activities. I do not know if you can yet imagine how I felt when you were talking about Serra playing softball. You also cannot imagine how proud I am of how good you are to Angela, Serra, Eden and Audrey. It is the same with Greg with Nichole, Matthew and Lucas. Brad and Greg, you do not know the gleam in your mother’s eye whenever she speaks with you on the phone. She is so proud of the three of you that it makes me feel beyond description how great it is to be able to be a part of it. I did not say anything a month ago, but Betsy, Happy Mother’s Day. Brad and Greg, Happy Father’s Day to you and do not lose sight of how wonderful it is to have a family that loves you. Murph